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Monday, April 25, 2011

a new portable project

I'm very excited-I found my portable summer hand stitching project! This makes me laugh, and is highly optimistic, since spring hasn't even sprung here yet. But once summer comes, I'll be ready!

This quilt is inspired by Jessica's travel quilts. Aren't they AMAZING? I have admired her star quilts for years, and now I'm diving in. I'm as scared as I was when I first was trying hand applique, but that turned out pretty dandy, so why not try something new?

A few specifics: Jessica has a video tutorial on how to make the stars. There is a flickr group here. She suggests using quilt patis, but I made my own cardboard templates. I didn't want to wait and order them, so I tried making my own, complete with punched holes and so far, so good! I drew a 60 degree diamond, with each diamond side measuring 2" long, which means the stars finish at 6.5" across. I can't wait to watch it grow. This is going to be a fun journey!

This is a beautiful pattern. I have this pattern done by my grandmother for my mother. the top is done, but I just have to quilt it for my mom. It's very special since it was the last quilt my grandma made before she passed. This will surely keep your hands busy during down time in the summer!!

Wow, those are going to be awesome! Might have to think about some sort of portable project like that one of these days. Seems like I am gone more than I am home a lot lately. Looks like a good scrap project. And I giggled all the way through her video. She has a very busy helper. :)

Hi! You should check out One Inchy Hexagon blog!We are making hexagon flowers with hexagon shapes, ie: like yours, but I know, different, with different shapes!http://inchyhexagonswap.blogspot.comif Jane opens up anymore spots, you may be interested!Take care, Leslie

I fell in love with the Inchy Hexagons but these diamonds have been tempting me to give them a whirl! I have a Cricut Expression so cut my own templates by the dozens with that... scrapbooking stores usually have die cut machines that you run cardstock through several sheets at a time, perhaps there is one in your town?

I love to paper piece also! I have made paper pieces from freezer paper and then ironed it to the fabric, which worked nifty. But, then I got tired of making the pieces and bought the pieces from Paper Pieces. They have a web site...paperpieces.com. They have die cut pieces for reasonable amount. It is a great portable needlework project!!

Welcome to the club! :-) I am also working at a star quilt - with the quilt patis templates Jessica recommended. I'll have to update my blog about my progress. I am sure loving piecing these stars, they are so pretty.

I love it. Just started my first star quilt as well and was surprised how fast it is going. I thought this was goping to be a year+ project, but apparently not. Cheating a bit though as I'm making it with my Mom.

I was going to use a hexagon between the stars but really like them a bit closer together like yours. I will have to go home and play a little :)

I really like the stars love your fabrics to i have just finished the top part of my first ever patchwork quilt and i did hexagons but i used my own cardboard templates i was thinking of doing another one for my mum as i loved making it all be hand and not using the machine. I am now in the process of hand quilting it which i am enjoying. I will defiantly try the stars next so thank you for the idea ;-) Enjoy yours and i will enjoy watching it grow and develop, dee x

Hi Amandajean, I love your stars! I am handpiecing some 'candied Hexagons'..from Kerry Dear. Love doing the diferent colour combos. I HAVE JUST GOT BACK INTO DOING THEM AS I HAVEN'T TOUCHED THEM FOR 5 MONTHS AS THE CROCHET BUG GOT ME. Thanks for the link to jessicas blog, i'm off to check it out now. sue~ n.z.

OhMyGosh -- your stars are adorable! I love the fabrics you've chosen. It's going to be a fantastic take-along project! If I ever get done with my yoyos (ha!) I'm thinking stars or hexagons would be a great replacement -- like you, I love to have a portable project. I'm looking forward to seeing this one grow!

This is exactly what I've been waiting for :-) Can't wait for the holidays to start... Still working on my hexagons though... Not sure if I'm finishing those first or start something new. This is definitely highly contagious :-)

these really are amazing! I do love having a portable project, especially for summer. I remember the portable project you worked on last summer - those applique flower petals. Very cool. Love this one too!

Ooooooh--I love it! Perfect portable project!! I have been looking for that blue print (in any of the colorways) and can't track it down anywhere. I know it was Windham feedsack 2--did you get it recently? Do you have any I could buy from you or trade? I love it so much and am so bummed that I missed it!

I'm working on a english paper piecing project as well but mine is hexagons. I'm thinking that my project will last for this spring, summer and probably into the fall in order to hand quilt it as well. Good luck with yours!

Wow, love those stars! I would definitely start this project if I didn't have a hex project already in the works. Thanks for sharing the link to Jessica's travel quilt. I just posted photo's of my hex quilt this morning. It was my travel project as well, so I throughly enjoyed her post. I look forward to seeing your progress.

Hi!! Paper piecing is great work!! but you can do it easier!! Paper templates from Sue Daley and a glue-pen from Sewline!! Very helpful!! And I still love your blog, and I am so glad that you came back after your Blog-pauce...... The best!! Anne:-)

I just recently decided that this summer's hand pieced project is going to be diamonds, so it's nice to see I'm not alone! Last year I managed to piece an entire king size quilt top in hexagons- http://lifeinlists.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/the-big-top.html - which I'm in the process of hand quilting.

I am glad to see that someone else is tackling this project. Mine has been ongoing for over 7 years. As soon as I tire of it I put it aside and pick up when I run out of hand project. I will take a pic and post on my blog. Your project is beautiful.